Reinforced foundation construction

ABSTRACT

A foundation garment of a type in which panels of greater elastic modulus are sewn into required areas for spot control of the figure of the wearer. The ratio of elastic modulus of the reinforced areas as compared to non-reinforced areas is of the order of greater than 3 to 1, and the reinforced areas are positioned to resiliently urge controlled flesh of the wearer into areas of the garment where they are less apt to bulge.

United States Patent [191 Fierst June 24, 1975 1 REINFORCED FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION [76] lnventor: Jeannette I. Fierst, 2 Weybridge Rd., Great Neck, NY. 1 1023 [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 412,876

3,533,412 10/1970 Bayer 128/555 X 3,542,033 11/1970 Tenusiak 128/528 3,707,973 l/l973 Welsch et al. 128/533 3,734,101 5/1973 Lo Cascio 128/533 3,752,164 8/1973 Salisky 128/547 3,774,621 11/1973 Dabe 128/539 Primary ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Temko & Temko [5 7 ABSTRACT A foundation garment of a type in which panels of greater elastic modulus are sewn into required areas for spot control of the figure of the wearer. The ratio of elastic modulus of the reinforced areas as compared to non-reinforced areas is of the order of greater than 3 to l, and the reinforced areas are positioned to resiliently urge controlled flesh of the wearer into areas of the garment where they are less apt to bulge.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures REINFORCED FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The foundation garment art has reached a highly developed state. The development of lycra-spandex yarns has permitted garments to offer effective control over large areas of the wearers body while permitting the,

garment to be relatively light in weight and porous. It is known in the art to provide areas ofless resiliency for improved control in the area of the wearers body which it overlies, but in known construction there is little or no differential elasticity, so that flesh is shaped rather than moved to desired configuration. Prior art constructions principally use panels of relatively little elasticity, that is to say of little expansive capacity. which rely for control upon other areas having elasticity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision of a foundation garment of one piece type which includes on a selective basis a plurality of elastic plies which are sewn to the body of the garment, preferably on an inner surface thereof to control specific areas of loose or drooping flesh of the wearer, and to urge such areas into a adjacent areas on the wearers body where they are less noticeable. These areas include reinforcement between the shoulder blades, under the arms, under the bust, as well as the common areas of thighs, stomach and buttocks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a front elcvational view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view thereof as seen from the plane 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 55 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character comprises a tubular main body member 11 preferably formed of lycra-spandex yarn in accordance with the known art. An upper edge 12 is supported on the body of the wearer by a pair of straps 13 and 14 which are secured to the edge at front and rear ends thereof 15 and 16, respectively. The rear portion of the upper edge is of generally U-shaped configuration as indicated by reference character 17, and additional control is provided by inserting a triangularly shaped reinforcement 18 as best seen in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the bust cups 20 are conventional, and are interconnected to a front panel 21. Immediately below the cups, in areas designated by reference character 22, there are positioned rectangular reinforcements 23 and 24 which extend a width approximately three quarters of the diameter of the bust cup. A hexagonally shaped panel 25 and a top edge 28 which define unreinforced triangularly shaped areas 29 and 30, and a central area 31 are disposed between the busts. Lower converging edges 32 and 33 lead to a lower horizontal edge 34 disposed just above the upper terminal 35 ofa slide fastener 36 providing an opening for a crotch portion 37, again, as known in the art,

Referring to FIG. 2, the back portion 38 includes a smaller back panel 39 bounded by an upper edge 40, upper converging edges 41 and 42, lower converging edges 43 and 44, and a lower edge 44a.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, thigh panels 45 and 46 are of generally tapered configuration, and are bounded by forward curvilinear edges 47 and rearward curvilinear edges 48 which meet at upper and lower apices 49 and 50, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 3, the main body 11 is bounded beneath the armpits by a curvilinear edge 51 on each side of the garment. Reinforced panels 52 are interconnected to this edge and arebounded the upper portion thereof by a rectilinear edge 53.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the reinforcing panels are most suitably sewn to the inner surface of the body ll, rather than the outer surface, for purposes of appearance. These panels are made of material having elastic properties in either of two directions, i.e. warp and weft, the modulus of elasticity in each direction being at least three times that of the elasticity of the body 11. When worn, the reinforcing panels by virtue of the fact that they are capable of substantial stretch exert a resilient effect on the flesh disposed therebeneath, and distinguished from non-expanding panels so often used in prior art constructions. Thus, that amount of flesh which cannot be physically moved, is compressed and rounded to provide a pleasing silhouette.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

I. In a control foundation garment, including a tubular main body element formed of spandex yarn and having a given modulus of elasticity in each of two mutually perpendicular directions, the improvement comprising: a plurality of reinforced areas formed by the securing of elastic panels having modulus of elasticity in each of said two mutually perpendicular directions of at least three times that of the modulus of elasticity of said main body element in each of said directions, in areas requiring control.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which one of said panels is in the form of a generally rectangular strip disposed horizontally beneath the bust cups of said main body element.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, in which an additional one of said panels is in the form of a hexagon positioned beneath said rectangularly shaped panels.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which one of said panels is in the form of a segment of a circle interconnected to lie beneath the armpit of a wearer.

5. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which one of said panels is interconnected to an upper rear portion of said main body element to overlie the area between the shoulder blades of the wearer.

6. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which a pair of said panels are of elongated configuration bounded by a pair of arcuately shaped edges overlying the thighs of the wearer, and extending upwardly to the area of the bust cups of said main body element.

7. Structure in accordance with claim 6, further characterized in the provision of front and back hexagonally shaped panels disposed between said last mentioned pair of panels. 

1. In a control foundation garment, including a tubular main body element formed of spandex yarn and having a given modulus of elasticity in each of two mutually perpendicular directions, the improvement comprising: a plurality of reinforced areas formed by the securing of elastic panels having modulus of elasticity in each of said two mutually perpendicular directions of at least three times that of the modulus of elasticity of said main body element in each of said directions, in areas requiring control.
 2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which one of said panels is in the form of a generally rectangular strip disposed horizontally beneath the bust cups of said main body element.
 3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, in which an additional one of said panels is in the form of a hexagon positioned beneath said rectangularly shaped panels.
 4. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which one of said panels is in the form of a segment of a circle interconnected to lie beneath the armpit of a wearer.
 5. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which one of said panels is interconnected to an upper rear portion of said main body element to overlie the area between the shoulder blades of the wearer.
 6. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which a pair of said panels are of elongated configuration bounded by a pair of arcuately shaped edges overlying the thighs of the wearer, and extending upwardly to the area of the bust cups of said main body element.
 7. Structure in accordance with claim 6, further characterized in the provision of front and back hexagonally shaped panels disposed between said last mentioned pair of panels. 